Accidental Poisoning and Children

December 14, 2018|
Health and Wellbeing /

Children are curious. They love to explore and as anyone with a small child will tell you, they love to put things in their mouths. They also like to copy adults and this might include “taking medicine”. Of course, they don’t understand the dangers that some products pose so it’s up to us to protect them.

Sadly, unintentional poisoning is a major cause of injury and a visit to an emergency department for Australian children. And the group most at risk? Kids under five years and particularly those aged one to three.

Parents of young children are typically super vigilant so an accidental poisoning can be very upsetting. Not surprisingly, most child poisonings happen when little people are unsupervised, even for just a few moments. We need to ensure everyday products that can cause harm are well and truly out of reach.

Small children aren’t the only group at risk, according to Dr Ron Sultana, Director of Emergency Medicine at Epworth Richmond. “Over-the-counter pain-killers, such as paracetamol, are involved in a large number of accidental or deliberate self-poisonings in older age groups, with more people calling drug information centres about paracetamol than any other drug. Liver failure and death are unusual, but paracetamol remains the most important single cause of acute liver failure in Western countries.”

When to call 000

If the child shows the following symptoms, call an ambulance:

Loss of consciousness

Drowsiness

Agitation

Weakness

Nausea

Vomiting

Confusion

Seizures

Shallow, erratic or no breathing

Some poisons are highly toxic and only a small amount can cause serious problems including:

Fits (seizures)

Respiratory or cardiac arrests (when the breathing or heart stops)

Unconsciousness (coma) or death

Over-the-counter pain-killers, such as paracetamol, are involved in a large number of accidental or deliberate self-poisonings.

— Dr Ron Sultana, Director of Emergency Medicine, Epworth HealthCare

A visit to Emergency is always advised if you are worried, according to Dr Sultana.

Come in and see us – it’s always better to be comforted by an expert opinion. And if the child becomes ill at any point after you go home, come back in to the emergency department. You’ll always be welcome.

— Dr Ron Sultana, Director of Emergency Medicine, Epworth HealthCare

First aid for poisoning

If you think a child has ingested a drug or taken an overdose and the situation is not urgent to require a 000 call, call the Poison Information Centre, even if they seem okay. The centre is open 24 hours a day, every day, Australia-wide. Poisons Information Centre Phone 13 11 26. For translation and interpreting services call 13 14 50

One third of all infertility cases have been linked solely to issues with the male partner. Male infertility is a condition where the male in a relationship affects the child bearing ability of the woman.